dog training?

Question

whenever i let my dog outside without a leash he runs away. He is a good dog besides this. I've tried rewarding him when he comes back, yelling at him, i've even tried smacking him on the behind. Is there anything i can do to stop this behavior?

Answer 1

He needs more exercise. Get him running in the yard before walks and exercise more in general. Then get a pincher collar. Tell him no whenever he starts to bolt. If he is a big dog and you loose control with the pincher, a shock collar may be OK. I am pretty against them but I will not let a dog bolt ever. They get in a bad habit and it is very dangerous.

Answer 2

There is a technique to curb and eventually stop this behavior. But it takes weeks of constant work. There is no "overnight" fix. The technique is to use a 15 foot lead ( or flexi leash ) and when the dog gets to the end of the lead you turn 180 degrees and make him follow you. Repeat this technique around 15 minutes up to 5 times a day. After each day passes you shorten the distance that the dog can travel freely, eventually getting the dog to walk with you at every moment. This is basically a heel technique but it should work very well with your dog. Once you have him walking at heel with you, you should be able to remove the lead safely and have the pup walk with you at all times. Make sure to positivly reward your dog when he does good things with food or toys, whatever motivates it. And do not punish bad behavior, just start over and when he gets it right reward him. Disicipline is a deterrant in these situations, be creative and patient and you and your dog will be very happy.

Answer 3

I have the same problem. I will tell you what the trainer told us. I have a clicker, and I click it whenever the dog comes to me and then right after the click I give him a treat. Then when he learns that I call him and when he comes I do the same (click and treat). Then we must do the same exercise in an enclosed area (basketball field, etc) with a long leash or with no leash. After a while he learns that when you call him and he comes he is rewarded. Then you do that with a long leash outside an enclosed area. When you see he comes to you when you call him, maybe he's ready to be left without a leash. Now, I doubt this will ever work with my dog, because when we are out he is not in the least interested in me or the rewards, but if it helps you, let me know.

A shock collar is plain torture that doesn't teach him a good behaviour, it just makes him more angry and when he doesn't have it he'll be out of control.

Answer 4

The worst thing to do is what you have already done. You smacked your dog! The first principle in dog training is, Never smack your dog, not with your hand, not with a stick, not with a rolled up newspaper. NEVER EVER!!
The second principe in dog training is "NEVER SMACK YOUR DOG!!"
Ok, lets see if we can reverse the damage. Put a choker collar on you dog and a 2 meter lead. Let the dog go to the end of the lead and call him. If he wont come, try offering his favorite snack. If he comes, PRAISE him lavishly and reward him. Try using those liver treats to entice him to you. You have to undo the fear, YES, FEAR, that you have instilled into him by smacking him so that he wont reason in the following way, " If I come back to her/him when I am called, I will get hit". Once your dog has learnt that obedience to being called results in treats and LOVE he will begin to respond in the manner you want. When he comes back without any fuss, slip a longer lead of around 10 meters onto the collar and repeat the training. It he wont come, give a sharp tug on the lead/choker collar to get his attention and call him in. You may need to start at 2 meters then increase it by 1 meter at a time. There is a way to instill correction to your dog and I can give you this info if its requested. BUT, this correction is NOT to encourage him to come when called. It is to correct a behavior that is not acceptable to you or the family. eg, digging up the garden, chasing chooks, chewing your best shoes etc. The very best way to train him is to enroll him in a dog obedience class and take him every night it is held.
Please tell me that you have never smacked your dog for peeing in the house or worse, rubbed his nose in it.
Freckles

Answer 5

My dog does that also..She is s boxer. She just loves to run . She mines until I take her out., now during the summer I keep her out side on a long chain . She rather be out there. Has nice dog house, I bring her in side to eat., You can get a electric collar or fence for her. , or keep a long lease or chain out side for when you put her out.. Don't yell at her talk to her and let her understand what you are saying. But if you have plenty of time just take her for long walks. Good luck

Answer 6

Training Your Pup
http://www.petskare.com/category/Training-Your-Pup.html

Answer 7

Try holding on to the leash!

I HATE it when strange dogs come charging at us! Even if yours is friendly, you have NO IDEA if mine are. I carry pepper spray and will use it to keep a strange dog away.

I have been teaching obedience classes for 25 years, and my dogs are ALL onlead, why do you think yours should not be? It is the responsible thing to do.

Answer 8

Tail and the bottom of paws is all you see...hauling as*! Dogs love to run. All I can say is get a shock collar or invest in an invisible fence and collar system. They are a sure way to fix the problem.

Answer 9

Best site on dog training i've seen is www.dogscouts.com it covers it all especially come. we started with our dog and it's working.

Answer 10

Try taking him for frequent walks.He obviously needs the exercise and you're not providing it or he'd not be running off.